Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-21
THE DAKOTA FLOODS.
THE MISSOURI RIVER RISES A FOsT AT
BISMARCK.
People Living On Hay Stacks and IN Trees
A Family Pursued by the Rushing Waters
Barely Escape BY Wading-An
Unprecedented Flood.

lished statement that the Northern Pacific
river warehouse was full of goods for up
the river is u mistake, the goods having
been removed in anticipation of high
water. The high trestle OF the Northern
Pacific bridge will require but three or
four days to repair. Word reached here
tonight that whole family had probably
perished or is still held captive at point
twenty miles above. Parties at Painted
Woods have been telephoned to go to the
rescue. 1t is getting colder.
CHICAGO, March 20.-A Times special
from Bismarck, Oak, says the Missouri
river is
STILL on THE RAMPAGE
The upper rise reached this point to-day,
and the water is flowing over the prairie
at a greater depth and more terrific speed
than ever. The stream has risen a foot
here to-day, which rise isequal to a rise OF
over twenty feet in the upper river, AZ the
water is spread out over q stretch of coun-
try six miles mile wide. The fearful bliz-
zard of yesterday abated last evening and
left over six inches of snow throughout the
Northwest. This will add to the flood, and
~ the sun has come ont warm to-day, the
tributaries OF the Missouri are already
growing from the melting snow. The
reScuing parties that made the wonderful
journey into the low lands yesterday and
saved the lives of six men and one woman
who were perched upon the tops of houses
and in the trees, are the heroes of the day.
\ telegram from Fort Lincoln yesterday
announced that people could be seen from
that point standing
ON HAY STACKS AND IN TREES,
and that unless they were rescued they
would perish in the flood. II is believed
that the people rescued are the ones re-
lerred TO in the Lincoln dispatch, although
many claims that the country directly Op-
pOsite the fort is settled and numerous in
habitants of the flooded district are still in
danger if not swept away. A report also
comes from the north to the effect that at
Painted Woods the settlers have been in
the trees and on hay stacks for two days
and reliefparties have been sent to that
point. The report that Superintendent
Graham of the Northern Pacific road had
been drowned, has been denied aud il is
learded that the rumor great out of his at
tempt to come to BiSmark Friday evening.
THE GORGE
at Sibley Island remains firm and all efforts
to remove it are in vain. Ii the present
state of affairs should remain week the
Missouri would have u permanent channel
cut across the country at least two miles
east of its old course. The ice is flowing
freely to-day and il being lodged in blocks
of from q rod to quarter OF a mile in
length in the farms and meadow land of
the settlers. The Northern Pacific trestle
has not been repaired and it is impossible
for the company TO work upon the struct-
lure on account of the floating ice. So rap
idly did the flood rise at Painted Woods
that two families, including five children
started TO pack their household goods pre-
lparatory TO moving back from the stream
yesterday morning. Their houses were
pOcated on low land, and before they got
Re dy to start, the water was within six
(fret of the houses They then started but
were compelled to 90 through low land q
Quarter of mile before they could reach
the Butts, their house being on the high
rst spot in the locality. No sooner did
the water reach that height than il swept
down into the lOwland and for over n
quarter of a mile, the horror stricken peo-
pie were
PURSUED BY THE RUSHING WATERS.
Before they reached the high land they
were Overtaken and for the last four rods
we're compelled to wade through three
feet of water, one of the children being
carried long distance.
Another'train load of passengers arrived
from the East to-day and will be COM
PEELED to remain here until it is possible
to cross the Missouri. AS the ice Is float
ing freely, it is believed that the river will
he free OF ice tomorrow and the Northern
Pacific will establish a transfer line OF
boats.